Montreal’s Museums arrived on the shoegaze scene in 2024 with ‘Sink Your Teeth In My Brain’, a two track digital release that captured a wealth of heavily treated guitar sounds and swirling atmospheres rather effectively. Coupled with a strong sense of indie-centric melodies and a clean, almost dream pop-esque vocal, the material was accessible for the style; the production values showed some obvious budgetary limitations, but the band’s bright and breezy style marked them out as an act to keep an ear for in future. Subsequent singles ‘Ur Best’ and ‘In Waves’ continued the streak of great retro sounds. With its fusion of indie and bubblegum pop, and incessant hook – sort of like a collaboration between Velocity Girl and Rilo Kiley – the latter more than suggested that Museums could be capable of delivering something much bigger in time.

Something “much bigger” definitely comes via the first half of this double whammy issued at the beginning of 2026. The moment ‘Lost In Your Head’ arrives with a trebly sounding rhythm guitar and flowing vocal, the band’s mix of indie, dream pop and retro alternative sounds like a great throwback to the days of Drugstore. That’ll be enough to reel in a world of music fans who hit their twenties in the mid 90s, but things actually get better once the rhythm section put in an appearance. A solid bassline quickly builds upon a great melody and gives the track a better structure, steering everything towards a classic American indie sound – despite these guys being firmly Canadian – and by the time a busier middle eight arrives, the track’s slightly jagged yet very melodic approach shares a great blend of atmosphere and punch. In some ways, it’s a little more direct than previous recordings – in a good way – but Ali Kouri’s almost ethereal vocal style provides an obvious and very strong link with the band’s earlier work.

With a touch more distortion applied to the guitar and a slower tempo, ‘Can’t Stop Thinking About It’ feels a little heavier, but within the darker sound, there are some great elements cutting through. The tough guitar adds a bluesy lilt to a heavy almost post-grunge meets shoegaze tone, while a stately drum part weaves a waltzing rhythm. The lightness of the beat contrasted with the force of the guitar chords makes this interesting from the outset, and it’s great to hear the band pushing for a rockier sound. As before, a light and airy vocal really suits the lyric in hand, and brings a lot more melody to the fore. For those who were hoping Museums would make good on the shoegaze elements present in those earlier tracks, ‘Can’t Stop…’s extended coda whisks the audience away from indie pop and squarely into a world where more of a fractured rhythm is overlaid by arcs of fuzzy guitar and feedback, drawing a huge amount of influence from shoegaze’s pioneers. Overall, it doesn’t have the intensity of a My Bloody Valentine or Jesus & Mary Chain, but the wall of sound, centred around harmonics and distortion, more than suggests Museums could share as much intensity if the mood called for it. This will possibly take a couple more listens to sink in, but a couple of great riffs and a repeated hook will eventually help the track to stick.

This release may be woefully short – it’s specifically been issued as a stand alone release to build interest before the arrival of a planned EP – but both ‘Lost In Your Head’ and ‘Can’t Stop Thinking About It’ are fantastic tracks which cement Museums’ reputation as a growing force within the alternative underground. It’s definitely worth the price of admission for ‘Lost In Your Head’, which is an absolutely superb slice of retro indie. If you’re already familiar with Museums, there’s every chance you’re going to want to pick this up at the earliest opportunity, and if you aren’t, despite the length, there’s just enough here to make you a fan. A recommended listen.

December 2025